Foreign media mocks Hindu faith, describes Maha Kumbh Mela as a “bathing spectacle” and Naga Sadhus as “naked ash-smeared ascetics"
Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, India 
12 January, 2025
Case Summary
BBC News published an article describing the Maha Kumbh Mela as a “bathing spectacle” and referred to Naga Sadhus as “naked ash-smeared ascetics.” The article, authored by journalist Geeta Pandey, drew criticism for its culturally insensitive language and lack of respect for Hindu traditions. The phrase “naked” in the headline sparked significant outrage on social media, with many accusing BBC News of being tone-deaf and dismissive of Indian cultural and religious practices. Following the backlash, BBC News edited the headline and removed the word “naked.” Geeta Pandey, the author of the article, had been associated with controversial reporting in the past. In April 2023, she faced criticism for portraying deceased gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed in a sympathetic light. She also wrote an article describing Prashant Bhushan, known for spreading misinformation, as an “unlikely hero” in India. Additionally, Pandey dismissed concerns about ‘love jihad,’ a term used to describe cases of forced conversion and identity fraud, despite documented evidence of such incidents. The article on the Maha Kumbh Mela became a focal point for criticism of BBC News’ broader reporting on Indian cultural and political issues. Many argued that the article reflected a pattern of misrepresentation and insensitivity towards Indian traditions. Critics highlighted that such reporting not only alienates audiences but also trivializes deeply rooted cultural practices, such as the Maha Kumbh Mela, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Hate speech against Hindus. Under this, the first sub-category selected is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. The second sub-category under which this case has been placed is- Anti-Hindu subversion and prejudice. Hate speech is defined as any speech, gesture, conduct, writing, or display that is prejudicial against a specific individual and/or group of people, which is leading to or may lead to violence, prejudicial action or hate against that individual and/or group. Media plays a specific and overarching reach in perpetuating prejudicial attitudes towards a community owing to unfair, untrue coverage and/or misrepresentation/misinterpretation, selective coverage and/or omission of facts of/pertaining to issues affecting a specific religious group. This type of bias can dehumanise the victim group, making it easier for others to justify harmful actions against them, which aligns with the objectives of hate speech laws aimed at preventing such harm. It is often observed that the media takes a prejudicial stand against the Hindu community driven by their need to shield the aggressor community which happens to be a numeric minority, however, is the one perpetrating violence against Hindus. For example, the media is often quick to contextualise religiously motivated crimes against Hindus, omit or misrepresent facts that point towards religiously motivated hate crimes, justify and/or downplay religiously motivated hate crimes or simply present fake news to stereotype Hindus. Such media bias leads to the denial of persecution and is often used to dehumanise Hindus, leading to justification for violence against them. For example, the media covered several fake allegations of Hindus targeting Muslims and forcing them to chant Jai Shree Ram. Most of these cases were proved false and fabricated after police investigation. These fake news reports were subsequently never retracted or clarified. Such fake news led to the justification of violence and dehumanisation of Hindus based on the argument that since Hindus targeted Muslims and forced them to chant Jai Shree Ram, the dehumanisation of Hindus and violence against them was par for the course and merely a retaliation. Such media bias leads to prejudicial portrayal of Hindus and offers a justification for violence against them and therefore, is considered hate speech under this category. By referring to the Mahakumbh event as a “bathing spectacle” and describing the Naga Sadhus as “naked ash-smeared ascetics,” the media house trivialised one of the most significant Hindu religious gatherings. Such language not only displayed insensitivity but also perpetuated a dismissive attitude towards deeply spiritual practices that are central to Hinduism. The reduction of sacred rituals to mere spectacles indicates an underlying bias against the faith, undermining its cultural and religious significance. This portrayal, coupled with the broader pattern of misrepresentation in the media house's coverage of Hindu traditions, exemplifies a lack of respect and a deliberate attempt to demean Hindu religious practices. Such actions, rooted in disdain, classify as a religiously motivated hate crime against Hindus, as they mock their faith and marginalise their religious identity.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
female
Sources 
